Clearing wet debris and drying out the structures will be the first step toward rebuilding, Fusco said. Electrical systems and gas lines were destroyed when the ocean flooded the lower level.

Once those systems are restored, the buildings can be heated, which will help dry out damp areas. Then rebuilding can start.

It won’t be a simple process, Fusco said. “There is so much devastation everywhere that there is a high demand for the pieces you need to put things back together.”

Many of the boardwalk buildings were spared. The Grand Arcade and Convention Hall are mostly intact, aside from exterior damage. Sandy went easy on concession stands like Puckers, which only sustained 2 inches of flooding.

“It’s hard to complain when you look at friends and neighbors who have nothing left,” said Kristina Bannon, owner of Puckers.

On Wednesday morning, crews were dealing with the water and steam-cleaning contaminants at Stella Marina, which was flooded by the storm surge.

Co-owner Dennis Tafuri said he is uncertain when the restaurant will reopen. Once the building is dry, contractors say it could take three to four weeks for construction, Tafuri said.

“We are trying to get everything done as fast as we can,” Tafuri said.

Watermark owner Russell Lewis said he hopes to reopen by year’s end. The bar, located on the upper level, was not damaged, he said. However, with electrical systems down, the entire First Avenue Pavilion will remain closed.

Johnson said many boardwalk businesses could open soon using their Ocean Avenue entrances. But the city must consider safety issues, such as fire exits, he said.

“You don’t want to have emergency doors where you come out and fall into a hole,” he said. “I’m confident that we can work out some accommodations so businesses can open when they are ready.”

All in all, retailers and city officials consider Asbury Park lucky compared to other Shore communities. Johnson said he’s confident the boardwalk will be back in full force by May 1.

“The good news is that every day I go down there it’s 100 percent better than the day before,” he said.

And the spray-painted words across across the front of Ralph’s Famous Italian Ice stand are certainly encouraging: “Yo Sandy, we’ll be back.”